Modified polymerases for improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues

ABSTRACT

Presented herein are polymerase enzymes for improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues, in particular nucleotides which are modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl, as well as methods and kits using the same.

BACKGROUND

DNA polymerases are relied upon by all organisms to replicate and maintain their genomes. They allow high fidelity replication of DNA by detecting complementarity between bases as well as recognizing additional structural features of the base. There remains a need for modified polymerases with improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues, in particular nucleotides which are modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The present application is being filed along with a Sequence Listing in electronic format. The Sequence Listing is provided as a file entitled IP0660.TXT, created Mar. 14, 2013, which is 199 Kb in size. The information in the electronic format of the Sequence Listing is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Presented herein are polymerase enzymes for improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues, in particular nucleotides which are modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group. The present inventors have surprisingly identified certain altered polymerases which exhibit improved incorporation of the desired analogues and have a number of other associated advantages.

Presented herein are altered polymerases which exhibits increased turnover when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide. The altered polymerases exhibit, for example, enhanced template switching when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the altered polymerases exhibit reduced pyrophosphorolysis when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide.

The altered polymerase comprises at least one amino acid substitution mutation at a position in the 3′ block binding pocket of the polymerase, which can comprise residues having side chain groups positioned within 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Å of the blocking group of a 3′ blocked nucleotide. In certain embodiments, the 3′ block binding pocket comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 8 Å of the blocking group of a 3′ blocked nucleotide. For example, in some embodiments, the 3′ block binding pocket comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 8 Å of the terminal azide of a nucleotide having O-azido methyl functionality at the 3′ position, such as the terminal azide of the nucleotide in the crystal structure shown in FIG. 2.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises at least one amino acid substitution mutation at the position or positions functionally equivalent to Gly386, Gly387, Phe405, Ser407, Leu408, Tyr409, Pro410, Ser411, Ile412, Asn491, Asn494, Gly495, Ala510, Ser512, Va1513, Thr514, Ala515, Trp516, Gly517, Arg518, Glu519, Tyr520, Ile521, Thr541 and/or Asp542 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. The wild type the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4. In some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a combination of one or more substitution mutation at the position or positions functionally equivalent to Gly386, Gly387, Phe405, Ser407, Leu408, Tyr409, Pro410, Ser411, Ile412, Asn491, Asn494, Gly495, Ala510, Ser512, Val513, Thr514, Ala515, Trp516, Gly517, Arg518, Glu519, Tyr520, Ile521, Thr541 and/or Asp542 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, the at least one substitution mutation comprises a mutation to the position equivalent to Thr514 and/or Ile 521.

In certain embodiments, the substitution mutation comprises a mutation to a residue having a smaller side chain. In certain embodiments, the substitution mutation comprises a mutation to a residue having a hydrophobic side chain.

In some embodiments, the polymerase is a DNA polymerase. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the DNA polymerase is a family B type DNA polymerase. The polymerase can be, for example, a family B archael DNA polymerase, human DNA polymerase-α, T4, RB69, and phi29 phage DNA polymerases. In certain embodiments, the family B archael DNA polymerase is from a genus selected from the group consisting of Thermococcus, Pyrococcus, and Methanococcus. For example, the polymerase can be selected from the group consisting of Vent, Deep Vent, 9° N, and Pfu polymerase. In certain embodiments, the family B archael DNA polymerase is 9° N polymerase.

In some embodiments, in addition to the above mutations, the altered polymerase can further comprise substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Leu408 and/or Tyr409 and/or Pro410 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, the substitution mutations can comprise substitution mutations homologous to Leu408Ala and/or Tyr409Ala and/or Pro410Ile in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.

In some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises reduced exonuclease activity as compared to a wild type polymerase. For example, in certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Asp141 and/or Glu143 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Ala485 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, in some embodiments, the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Ala485Leu or Ala485Val in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase further comprises a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Cys223 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, in certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Cys223Ser in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase can comprise an additional substitution mutation to remove an internal methionine. For example, in some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Met129 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Met129Ala in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

Also presented herein is an altered polymerase comprising a substitution mutation to the semi-conserved domain in the 3′ block binding pocket, the semi-conserved domain comprising the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, wherein the substitution mutation comprises a mutation at position 3 to any residue other than Thr and/ or a mutation at position 10 to any residue other than Ile, or a combination the two substitution mutations. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Thr at position 3. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Ile at position 10. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises both a mutation to Thr at position 3 and a mutation to Ile at position 10.

Also presented herein is an altered polymerase comprising a substitution mutation to the semi-conserved domain in the 3′ block binding pocket, the semi-conserved domain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the substitution mutation comprises a mutation at position 6 to any residue other than Thr and/ or a mutation at position 13 to any residue other than Ile, or a combination the two substitution mutations. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Thr at position 6. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Ile at position 13. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises both a mutation to Thr at position 6 and a mutation to Ile at position 13.

In some embodiments, in addition to the above mutations, the altered polymerase can further comprise substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Leu408 and/or Tyr409 and/or Pro410 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, the substitution mutations can comprise substitution mutations homologous to Leu408Ala and/or Tyr409Ala and/or Pro410Ile in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.

In some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises reduced exonuclease activity as compared to a wild type polymerase. For example, in certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Asp141 and/or Glu143 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Ala485 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, in some embodiments, the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Ala485Leu or Ala485Val in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase further comprises a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Cys223 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, in certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Cys223Ser in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase can comprise an additional substitution mutation to remove an internal methionine. For example, in some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Met129 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Met129Ala in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

Also presented herein is an altered polymerase comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 6-8, 10-12, 14-16, 18-20, 22-24, 26-28 and 32-34.

Also presented herein is a nucleic acid molecule encoding an altered polymerase as defined in any the above embodiments. Also presented herein is an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule described above. Also presented herein is a host cell comprising the vector described above.

Also presented herein is a method for incorporating modified nucleotides into DNA comprising allowing the following components to interact: (i) an altered polymerase according to any of the above embodiments, (ii) a DNA template; and (iii) a nucleotide solution. In certain embodiments, the DNA template comprises a clustered array.

Also provided herein is a kit for performing a nucleotide incorporation reaction comprising: a polymerase as defined in any of the above embodiments and a nucleotide solution. In certain embodiments, the nucleotide solution comprises labelled nucleotides. In certain embodiments, the nucleotides comprise synthetic nucleotides. In certain embodiments, the nucleotides comprise modified nucleotides. In certain embodiments, the modified nucleotides have been modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group. In certain embodiments, the modified nucleotides comprise a modified nucleotide or nucleoside molecule comprising a purine or pyrimidine base and a ribose or deoxyribose sugar moiety having a removable 3′-OH blocking group covalently attached thereto, such that the 3′ carbon atom has attached a group of the structure

—O—Z

-   -   wherein Z is any of —C(R′)₂—O—R″,—C(R′)₂—N(R″)₂,13 C(R′)₂ 13         N(H)R″, —C(R′)₂—S—R″ and —C(R′)₂-F,     -   wherein each R″ is or is part of a removable protecting group;     -   each R′ is independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, substituted         alkyl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl,         heterocyclic, acyl, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy or         amido group, or a detectable label attached through a linking         group; or (R′)₂ represents an alkylidene group of formula         ═C(R′″)₂ wherein each R′″ may be the same or different and is         selected from the group comprising hydrogen and halogen atoms         and alkyl groups; and     -   wherein the molecule may be reacted to yield an intermediate in         which each R″ is exchanged for H or, where Z is —C(R′)₂—F, the F         is exchanged for OH, SH or NH₂, preferably OH, which         intermediate dissociates under aqueous conditions to afford a         molecule with a free 3′OH;     -   with the proviso that where Z is —C(R′)₂—S—R″, both R′ groups         are not H.

In certain embodiments, R′ of the modified nucleotide or nucleoside is an alkyl or substituted alkyl. In certain embodiments, —Z of the modified nucleotide or nucleoside is of formula —C(R′)₂—N₃. In certain embodiments, Z is an azidomethyl group.

In certain embodiments, the modified nucleotides are fluorescently labelled to allow their detection. In certain embodiments, the modified nucleotides comprise a nucleotide or nucleoside having a base attached to a detectable label via a cleavable linker. In certain embodiments, the detectable label comprises a fluorescent label. In certain embodiments, the kit further comprises one or more DNA template molecules and/or primers.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a phosphor image of a gel assay measuring pyrophosphorolysis by a DNA polymerase.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the co-crystal of 9° N DNA polymerase bound to a 3′ blocked cytosine analogue and a DNA template.

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing alignment of polymerase amino acid sequences from Thermococcus sp. 9° N-7 (9° N), 9° N polymerase T514S/I521 L mutant (Po1957), Thermococcus gorgonarius (TGO), Thermococcus kodakaraensis (KOD1), Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu), Methanococcus maripaludis (MMS2) and RB69 phage DNA polymerase. The numbering shown represents the numbering of amino acid residues in 9° N polymerase.

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing two highlighted portions of the alignment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing results from a phasing/pre-phasing analysis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Presented herein are polymerase enzymes for improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues, in particular nucleotides which are modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group. The present inventors have surprisingly identified certain altered polymerases which exhibit improved incorporation of the desired analogues and have a number of other associated advantages.

One embodiment of the altered polymerases presented herein are polymerases which exhibit increased turnover when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide. The turnover rate of a polymerase reflects, in part, the rate of enzyme dissociation from template and can be quantitated using any of a variety of methodologies known in the art. For example, the off rate of a DNA polymerase may be measured using an assay to measure burst kinetics, as set forth generally in

Example 1 below, and as described in Joyce (2010) Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1804:1032-1040, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The altered polymerases presented herein exhibit, for example, enhanced template switching when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the altered polymerases exhibit reduced pyrophosphorolysis when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide. Pyrophosphorolysis, which is the reverse reaction of nucleotide incorporation, occurs more frequently when a polymerase has a slower off rate after incorporation of a nucleotide. Pyrophosphorolysis can be quantitated using any of a variety of methods known in the art. Assays to measure pyrophosphorolysis are set forth in FIG. 1 and described in Kaushik et al., (1996) Biochemistry 35:7256-7266, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

As described in greater detail hereinbelow, the inventors have surprisingly found that one or more mutations to residues in the space surrounding the 3′ blocking group result in profound increases in turnover rate and reduction in pyrophosphorolysis. These altered polymerases have improved performance in DNA sequencing by synthesis (SBS) and result in reduced phasing and/or pre-phasing errors.

As used herein, the term “phasing” refers to a phenomenon in SBS that is caused by incomplete incorporation of a nucleotide in some portion of DNA strands within clusters by polymerases at a given sequencing cycle. The term “pre-phasing” refers to a phenomenon in SBS that is caused by the incorporation of nucleotides without effective 3′ terminators, causing the incorporation event to go 1 cycle ahead. Phasing and pre-phasing cause the extracted intensities for a specific cycle to consist of the signal of the current cycle as well as noise from the preceding and following cycles. As the number of cycles increases, the fraction of sequences per cluster affected by phasing increases, hampering the identification of the correct base. Phasing can be caused, for example, by a polymerase which performs the reverse reaction of nucleotide incorporation, as is known to happen under conditions conducive to pyrophosphorolysis. Accordingly, the discovery of altered polymerases which decrease the incidence of phasing and/or pre-phasing is surprising and provides a great advantage in SBS applications. For example, the altered polymerases provide faster SBS cycle time, lower phasing and pre-phasing values, and longer sequencing read length. The characterization of altered polymerases as provided herein is set forth in the Example section below.

The altered polymerases as provided herein can comprise at least one amino acid substitution mutation at a position in the 3′ block binding pocket of the polymerase. As used herein, the term “3′ block binding pocket” refers to the three-dimensional pocket of a polymerase enzyme which surrounds a blocking group at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl of the nucleotide. For example, the inventors have solved the co-crystal structure of a DNA polymerase bound to cytosine having an O-azido methyl functionality at the 3′ position, as set forth in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, the 3′ block binding pocket comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Å of the blocking group of a 3′ blocked nucleotide. In certain embodiments, the 3′ block binding pocket comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 8 Å of the blocking group of a 3′ blocked nucleotide. For example, in some embodiments, the 3′ block binding pocket of a DNA polymerase comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 8 Å of the terminal azide of a nucleotide having O-azido methyl functionality at the 3′ position.

The altered polymerase can comprise at least one amino acid substitution mutation at the position or positions functionally equivalent to those residues set forth in Table 1 below. Table 1 sets forth those polymerase residues having side chains positioned with 6 Angstrom and 8 Angstrom of the terminal azide of a 3′ O-azido methyl blocked nucleotide as determined by crystallography. FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a co-crystal of a 9° N DNA polymerase bound to a 3′ O-azido methyl blocked cytosine analogue and a DNA template. Amino acid residues having a side chain within a 6 or 8 Angstrom sphere of the terminal azide are set forth in Table 1 below.

Thus, in certain embodiments, an altered polymerase presented herein comprises at least one amino acid substitution mutation at the position or positions functionally equivalent to, for example, Gly386, Gly387, Phe405, Ser407, Leu408, Tyr409, Pro410, Ser411, Ile412, Asn491, Asn494, Gly495, Ala510, Ser512, Val513, Thr514, Ala515, Trp516, Gly517, Arg518, Glu519, Tyr520, Ile521, Thr541 and/or Asp542 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a combination of one or more substitution mutation at the position or positions functionally equivalent to, for example, Gly386, Gly387, Phe405, Ser407, Leu408, Tyr409, Pro410, Ser411, Ile412, Asn491, Asn494, Gly495, Ala510, Ser512, Val513, Thr514, Ala515, Trp516, Gly517, Arg518, Glu519, Tyr520, Ile521, Thr541 and/or Asp542 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, the at least one substitution mutation comprises a mutation to the position equivalent to Thr514 and/or Ile521.

TABLE 1 Residues in 3′ block binding pocket of 9°N DNA polymerase Residues within 6 Residues within 8 Angstrom of terminal Angstrom of terminal azide azide Leu 408 Gly 386 Tyr 409 Gly 387 Ile 412 Phe 405 Asn 494 Ser 407 Val 513* Pro 410 Thr 514* Ser 411 Ala 515* Asn 491 Trp 516* Gly 495 Gly 517* Ala 510* Arg 518* Ser 512* Thr 541 Glu 519* Asp 542 Tyr 520* Ile 521* *indicates residues in the semi-conserved domain of the 3′ block binding pocket.

In certain embodiments, the substitution mutation comprises a mutation to a residue having a smaller side chain. The relative sizes of amino acid side chains are well known in the art and can be compared using any known metric, including steric effects and/or electron density. Thus, one example of amino acids set forth in order of increasing size would be G, A, S, C, V, T, P, I, L, D, N, E, Q, M, K, H, F, Y, R, W. In certain embodiments, the substitution mutation comprises a mutation to a residue having a hydrophobic side chain such as A, I, L, V, F, W, Y.

Also presented herein is an altered polymerase comprising a substitution mutation to the semi-conserved domain in the 3′ block binding pocket. As used herein, the term “semi-conserved domain” refers to a portion of polymerase that is fully conserved, or at least partially conserved among various species. The semi-conserved domain comprises amino acid residues that reside in the 3′ block binding pocket of the polymerase. It has been surprisingly discovered that mutation of one or more residues in the semi-conserved domain affects the polymerase activity in the presence of 3′ blocked nucleotides, resulting in profound increases in turnover rate and reduction in pyrophosphorolysis. These altered polymerases have improved performance in DNA sequencing by synthesis and result in reduced phasing errors, as described in the Example section below.

In some embodiments, the semi-conserved domain comprises amino acids having the sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-4. SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 correspond to residues 512-521 of the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence, which is set forth herein as SEQ ID NO: 5. SEQ ID NO: 4 corresponds to residues 509-521 of the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. An alignment showing the conservation among various species in the semi-conserved domain is set forth in FIGS. 3 and 4. The polymerase sequences shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 were obtained from Genbank database accession numbers Q56366 (9° N DNA polymerase), NP_(—)577941 (Pfu), YP_(—)182414 (KOD1), NP_(—)987500 (MMS2), AAP75958 (RB69), P56689 (TGo).

Mutations to one or more residues in the semi-conserved domain have been surprisingly found to increases in turnover rate and reduction in pyrophosphorolysis, resulting in reduced phasing errors. For example, in some embodiments of the altered polymerases presented herein, the substitution mutation comprises a mutation at position 3 of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 to any residue other than Thr and/or a mutation at position 10 of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 to any residue other than Ile, or a combination the two substitution mutations. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Thr at position 3 of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Ile at position 10 of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises both a mutation to Thr at position 3 of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 and a mutation to Ile at position 10 of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3.

In some embodiments of the altered polymerases presented herein, the substitution mutation comprises a mutation at position 6 of SEQ ID NO: 4 to any residue other than Thr and/or a mutation at position 13 of SEQ ID NO: 4 to any residue other than Ile, or a combination the two substitution mutations. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Thr at position 6 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a mutation to Ile at position 13 of SEQ ID NO: 4. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises both a mutation to Thr at position 6 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a mutation to Ile at position 13 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In some embodiments, the polymerase is a DNA polymerase. In certain embodiments, the DNA polymerase is a family B type DNA polymerase. The polymerase can be, for example, a family B archael DNA polymerase, human DNA polymerase-α, and phage polymerases. Any phage polymerase can be used in the embodiments presented herein, including, for example phage polymerases such as T4, RB69, and phi29 phage DNA polymerases.

Family B archael DNA polymerases are well known in the art as exemplified by the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,283149, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. In certain embodiments the archael DNA polymerase is from hyperthermophilic archea, which means that the polymerases are often thermostable. Accordingly, in a further preferred embodiment the polymerase is selected from Vent, Deep Vent, 9° N and Pfu polymerase. Vent and Deep Vent are commercial names used for family B DNA polymerases isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus litoralis. 9° N polymerase was also identified from Thermococcus sp. Pfu polymerase was isolated from Pyrococcus furiosus.

In certain embodiments, the family B archael DNA polymerase is from a genus such as, for example those of the genus Thermococcus, Pyrococcus and Methanococcus. Members of the genus Thermococcus are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to Thermococcus 4557, Thermococcus barophilus, Thermococcus gammatolerans, Thermococcus onnurineus, Thermococcus sibiricus, Thermococcus kodakarensis, Thermococcus gorgonarius. Members of the genus Pyrococcus are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to Pyrococcus NA2, Pyrococcus abyssi, Pyrococcus furiosus, Pyrococcus horikoshii, Pyrococcus yayanosii, Pyrococcus endeavori, Pyrococcus glycovorans, Pyrococcus woesei. Members of the genus Methanococcus are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to M. aeolicus, M maripaludis, M vannielii, M. voltae, “M. thermolithotrophicus” and “M. jannaschii”.

For example, the polymerase can be selected from the group consisting of Vent, Deep Vent, 9° N, and Pfu polymerase. In certain embodiments, the family B archael DNA polymerase is 9° N polymerase.

By “functionally equivalent” it is meant that the control polymerase, in the case of studies using a different polymerase entirely, will contain the amino acid substitution that is considered to occur at the amino acid position in the other polymerase that has the same functional role in the enzyme. As an example, the mutation at position 412 from Tyrosine to Valine (Y412V) in the Vent DNA polymerase would be functionally equivalent to a substitution at position 409 from Tyrosine to Valine (Y409V) in the 9° N polymerase.

Generally functionally equivalent substitution mutations in two or more different polymerases occur at homologous amino acid positions in the amino acid sequences of the polymerases. Hence, use herein of the term “functionally equivalent” also encompasses mutations that are “positionally equivalent” or “homologous” to a given mutation, regardless of whether or not the particular function of the mutated amino acid is known. It is possible to identify positionally equivalent or homologous amino acid residues in the amino acid sequences of two or more different polymerases on the basis of sequence alignment and/or molecular modelling. An example of sequence alignment to identify positionally equivalent and/or functionally equivalent residues is set forth in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the residues in the semi-conserved domain in the 3′ block binding pocket are identified as positions 512-521 of the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. The corresponding residues in TGO, KOD1, Pfu, MmS2 and RB69 polymerases are identified in the Figure as vertically aligned and are considered positionally equivalent as well as functionally equivalent to the corresponding residue in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.

The altered polymerases described hereinabove can comprise additional substitution mutations that are known to enhance one or more aspects of polymerase activity in the presence of 3′ blocked nucleotides and/or in DNA sequencing applications. For example, in some embodiments, in addition to any of the above mutations, the altered polymerase can further comprise substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Leu408 and/or Tyr409 and/or Pro410 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. Any of a variety of substitution mutations at one or more of positions at positions functionally equivalent to 408-410 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence which results in increased incorporation of blocked nucleotides can be made, as is known in the art and exemplified by the disclosure of US 2006/0240439 and US 2006/0281109, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. For example, the substitution mutations can comprise substitution mutations homologous to Leu408Ala and/or Tyr409Ala and/or Pro410Ile in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, in addition to any of the above mutations, the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Ala485 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. For example, in some embodiments, the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Ala485Leu or Ala485Val in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

In some embodiments, in addition to any of the above mutations, the altered polymerase can comprise reduced exonuclease activity as compared to a wild type polymerase. Any of a variety of substitution mutations at one or more of positions known to result in reduced exonuclease activity can be made, as is known in the art and exemplified by the incorporated materials of US 2006/0240439 and US 2006/0281109. For example, in some embodiments, in addition to the above mutations, the altered polymerase can further comprise substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Asp141 and/or Glu143 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, in addition to any of the above mutations, the altered polymerase further comprises a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Cys223 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence as is known in the art and exemplified by the incorporated materials of US 2006/0281109. For example, in certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Cys223 Ser in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, in addition to any of the above mutations, the altered polymerase can comprise one or more additional substitution mutation to remove an internal methionine. For example, in some embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Met129 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence. In certain embodiments, the altered polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Met129Ala in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.

Mutating Polymerases

Various types of mutagenesis are optionally used in the present disclosure, e.g., to modify polymerases to produce variants, e.g., in accordance with polymerase models and model predictions as discussed above, or using random or semi-random mutational approaches. In general, any available mutagenesis procedure can be used for making polymerase mutants. Such mutagenesis procedures optionally include selection of mutant nucleic acids and polypeptides for one or more activity of interest (e.g., reduced pyrophosphorolysis, increased turnover e.g., for a given nucleotide analog). Procedures that can be used include, but are not limited to: site-directed point mutagenesis, random point mutagenesis, in vitro or in vivo homologous recombination (DNA shuffling and combinatorial overlap PCR), mutagenesis using uracil containing templates, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, phosphorothioate-modified DNA mutagenesis, mutagenesis using gapped duplex DNA, point mismatch repair, mutagenesis using repair-deficient host strains, restriction-selection and restriction-purification, deletion mutagenesis, mutagenesis by total gene synthesis, degenerate PCR, double-strand break repair, and many others known to persons of skill. The starting polymerase for mutation can be any of those noted herein, including available polymerase mutants such as those identified e.g., in US 2006/0240439 and US 2006/0281109, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Optionally, mutagenesis can be guided by known information from a naturally occurring polymerase molecule, or of a known altered or mutated polymerase (e.g., using an existing mutant polymerase as noted in the preceding references), e.g., sequence, sequence comparisons, physical properties, crystal structure and/or the like as discussed above. However, in another class of embodiments, modification can be essentially random (e.g., as in classical or “family” DNA shuffling, see, e.g., Crameri et al. (1998) “DNA shuffling of a family of genes from diverse species accelerates directed evolution” Nature 391:288-291).

Additional information on mutation formats is found in: Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning-A Laboratory Manual (3rd Ed.), Vol. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 2000 (“Sambrook”); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (supplemented through 2011) (“Ausubel”)) and PCR Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications (Innis et al. eds) Academic Press Inc. San Diego, Calif. (1990) (“Innis”). The following publications and references cited within provide additional detail on mutation formats: Arnold, Protein engineering for unusual environments, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 4:450-455 (1993); Bass et al., Mutant Trp repressors with new DNA-binding specificities, Science 242:240-245 (1988); Bordo and Argos (1991) Suggestions for “Safe” Residue Substitutions in Site-directed Mutagenesis 217:721-729; Botstein & Shortle, Strategies and applications of in vitro mutagenesis, Science 229:1193-1201 (1985); Carter et al., Improved oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis using M13 vectors, Nucl. Acids Res. 13: 4431-4443 (1985); Carter, Site-directed mutagenesis, Biochem. J. 237:1-7 (1986); Carter, Improved oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis using M13 vectors, Methods in Enzymol. 154: 382-403 (1987); Dale et al., Oligonucleotide-directed random mutagenesis using the phosphorothioate method, Methods Mol. Biol. 57:369-374 (1996); Eghtedarzadeh & Henikoff, Use of oligonucleotides to generate large deletions, Nucl. Acids Res. 14: 5115 (1986); Fritz et al., Oligonucleotide-directed construction of mutations: a gapped duplex DNA procedure without enzymatic reactions in vitro, Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 6987-6999 (1988); Grundstrom et al., Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis by microscale ‘shot-gun’ gene synthesis, Nucl. Acids Res. 13: 3305-3316 (1985); Hayes (2002) Combining Computational and Experimental Screening for rapid Optimization of Protein Properties PNAS 99(25) 15926-15931; Kunkel, The efficiency of oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis, in Nucleic Acids & Molecular Biology (Eckstein, F. and Lilley, D. M. J. eds., Springer Verlag, Berlin)) (1987); Kunkel, Rapid and efficient site-specific mutagenesis without phenotypic selection, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:488-492 (1985); Kunkel et al., Rapid and efficient site-specific mutagenesis without phenotypic selection, Methods in Enzymol. 154, 367-382 (1987); Kramer et al., The gapped duplex DNA approach to oligonucleotide-directed mutation construction, Nucl. Acids Res. 12: 9441-9456 (1984); Kramer & Fritz Oligonucleotide-directed construction of mutations via gapped duplex DNA, Methods in Enzymol. 154:350-367 (1987); Kramer et al., Point Mismatch Repair, Cell 38:879-887 (1984); Kramer et al., Improved enzymatic in vitro reactions in the gapped duplex DNA approach to oligonucleotide-directed construction of mutations, Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 7207 (1988); Ling et al., Approaches to DNA mutagenesis: an overview, Anal Biochem. 254(2): 157-178 (1997); Lorimer and Pastan Nucleic Acids Res. 23, 3067-8 (1995); Mandecki, Oligonucleotide-directed double-strand break repair in plasmids of Escherichia coli: a method for site-specific mutagenesis, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 83:7177-7181(1986); Nakamaye & Eckstein, Inhibition of restriction endonuclease Nci I cleavage by phosphorothioate groups and its application to oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, Nucl. Acids Res. 14: 9679-9698 (1986); Nambiar et al., Total synthesis and cloning of a gene coding for the ribonuclease S protein, Science 223: 1299-1301(1984); Sakamar and Khorana, Total synthesis and expression of a gene for the a-subunit of bovine rod outer segment guanine nucleotide-binding protein (transducin), Nucl. Acids Res. 14: 6361-6372 (1988); Sayers et al., Y-T Exonucleases in phosphorothioate-based oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, Nucl. Acids Res. 16:791-802 (1988); Sayers et al., Strand specific cleavage of phosphorothioate-containing DNA by reaction with restriction endonucleases in the presence of ethidium bromide, (1988) Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 803-814; Sieber, et al., Nature Biotechnology, 19:456-460 (2001); Smith, In vitro mutagenesis, Ann. Rev. Genet. 19:423-462 (1985); Methods in Enzymol. 100: 468-500 (1983); Methods in Enzymol. 154: 329-350 (1987); Stemmer, Nature 370, 389-91(1994); Taylor et al., The use of phosphorothioate-modified DNA in restriction enzyme reactions to prepare nicked DNA, Nucl. Acids Res. 13: 8749-8764 (1985); Taylor et al., The rapid generation of oligonucleotide-directed mutations at high frequency using phosphorothioate-modified DNA, Nucl. Acids Res. 13: 8765-8787 (1985); Wells et al., Importance of hydrogen-bond formation in stabilizing the transition state of subtilisin, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A 317: 415-423 (1986); Wells et al., Cassette mutagenesis: an efficient method for generation of multiple mutations at defined sites, Gene 34:315-323 (1985); Zoller & Smith, Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis using M 13-derived vectors: an efficient and general procedure for the production of point mutations in any DNA fragment, Nucleic Acids Res. 10:6487-6500 (1982); Zoller & Smith, Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of DNA fragments cloned into M13 vectors, Methods in Enzymol. 100:468-500 (1983); Zoller & Smith, Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis: a simple method using two oligonucleotide primers and a single-stranded DNA template, Methods in Enzymol. 154:329-350 (1987); Clackson et al. (1991) “Making antibody fragments using phage display libraries” Nature 352:624-628; Gibbs et al. (2001) “Degenerate oligonucleotide gene shuffling (DOGS): a method for enhancing the frequency of recombination with family shuffling” Gene 271:13-20; and Hiraga and Arnold (2003) “General method for sequence-independent site-directed chimeragenesis: J. Mol. Biol. 330:287-296. Additional details on many of the above methods can be found in Methods in Enzymology Volume 154, which also describes useful controls for trouble-shooting problems with various mutagenesis methods.

Making and Isolating Recombinant Polymerases

Generally, nucleic acids encoding a polymerase as presented herein can be made by cloning, recombination, in vitro synthesis, in vitro amplification and/or other available methods. A variety of recombinant methods can be used for expressing an expression vector that encodes a polymerase as presented herein. Methods for making recombinant nucleic acids, expression and isolation of expressed products are well known and described in the art. A number of exemplary mutations and combinations of mutations, as well as strategies for design of desirable mutations, are described herein. Methods for making and selecting mutations in the active site of polymerases, including for modifying steric features in or near the active site to permit improved access by nucleotide analogs are found hereinabove and, e.g., in WO 2007/076057 and PCT/US2007/022459, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Additional useful references for mutation, recombinant and in vitro nucleic acid manipulation methods (including cloning, expression, PCR, and the like) include Berger and Kimmel, Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques, Methods in Enzymology volume 152 Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (Berger); Kaufman et al. (2003) Handbook of Molecular and Cellular Methods in Biology and Medicine Second Edition Ceske (ed) CRC Press (Kaufman); and The Nucleic Acid Protocols Handbook Ralph Rapley (ed) (2000) Cold Spring Harbor, Humana Press Inc (Rapley); Chen et al. (ed) PCR Cloning Protocols, Second Edition (Methods in Molecular Biology, volume 192) Humana Press; and in Viljoen et al. (2005)Molecular Diagnostic PCR Handbook Springer, ISBN 1402034032.

In addition, a plethora of kits are commercially available for the purification of plasmids or other relevant nucleic acids from cells, (see, e.g., EasyPrep™, FlexiPrep™ both from Pharmacia Biotech; StrataClean™, from Stratagene; and, QlAprep™ from Qiagen). Any isolated and/or purified nucleic acid can be further manipulated to produce other nucleic acids, used to transfect cells, incorporated into related vectors to infect organisms for expression, and/or the like. Typical cloning vectors contain transcription and translation terminators, transcription and translation initiation sequences, and promoters useful for regulation of the expression of the particular target nucleic acid. The vectors optionally comprise generic expression cassettes containing at least one independent terminator sequence, sequences permitting replication of the cassette in eukaryotes, or prokaryotes, or both, (e.g., shuttle vectors) and selection markers for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Vectors are suitable for replication and integration in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, or both.

Other useful references, e.g. for cell isolation and culture (e.g., for subsequent nucleic acid isolation) include Freshney (1994) Culture of Animal Cells, a Manual of Basic Technique, third edition, Wiley-Liss, New York and the references cited therein; Payne et al. (1992) Plant Cell and Tissue Culture in Liquid Systems John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, N.Y.; Gamborg and Phillips (eds) (1995) Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture; Fundamental Methods Springer Lab Manual, Springer-Verlag (Berlin Heidelberg New York) and Atlas and Parks (eds) The Handbook of Microbiological Media (1993) CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.

Nucleic acids encoding the recombinant polymerases of disclosed herein are also a feature of embodiments presented herein. A particular amino acid can be encoded by multiple codons, and certain translation systems (e.g., prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells) often exhibit codon bias, e.g., different organisms often prefer one of the several synonymous codons that encode the same amino acid. As such, nucleic acids presented herein are optionally “codon optimized,” meaning that the nucleic acids are synthesized to include codons that are preferred by the particular translation system being employed to express the polymerase. For example, when it is desirable to express the polymerase in a bacterial cell (or even a particular strain of bacteria), the nucleic acid can be synthesized to include codons most frequently found in the genome of that bacterial cell, for efficient expression of the polymerase. A similar strategy can be employed when it is desirable to express the polymerase in a eukaryotic cell, e.g., the nucleic acid can include codons preferred by that eukaryotic cell.

A variety of protein isolation and detection methods are known and can be used to isolate polymerases, e.g., from recombinant cultures of cells expressing the recombinant polymerases presented herein. A variety of protein isolation and detection methods are well known in the art, including, e.g., those set forth in R. Scopes, Protein Purification, Springer-Verlag, N.Y. (1982); Deutscher, Methods in Enzymology Vol. 182: Guide to Protein Purification, Academic Press, Inc. N.Y. (1990); Sandana (1997) Bioseparation of Proteins, Academic Press, Inc.; Bollag et al. (1996) Protein Methods, 2.sup.nd Edition Wiley-Liss, NY; Walker (1996) The Protein Protocols Handbook Humana Press, NJ, Harris and Angal (1990) Protein Purification Applications: A Practical Approach IRL Press at Oxford, Oxford, England; Harris and Angal Protein Purification Methods: A Practical Approach IRL Press at Oxford, Oxford, England; Scopes (1993) Protein Purification: Principles and Practice 3.sup.rd Edition Springer Verlag, NY; Janson and Ryden (1998) Protein Purification: Principles, High Resolution Methods and Applications, Second Edition Wiley-VCH, NY; and Walker (1998) Protein Protocols on CD-ROM Humana Press, NJ; and the references cited therein. Additional details regarding protein purification and detection methods can be found in Satinder Ahuja ed., Handbook of Bioseparations, Academic Press (2000).

Methods of Use

The altered polymerases presented herein can be used in a sequencing procedure, such as a sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) technique. Briefly, SBS can be initiated by contacting the target nucleic acids with one or more labeled nucleotides, DNA polymerase, etc. Those features where a primer is extended using the target nucleic acid as template will incorporate a labeled nucleotide that can be detected. Optionally, the labeled nucleotides can further include a reversible termination property that terminates further primer extension once a nucleotide has been added to a primer. For example, a nucleotide analog having a reversible terminator moiety can be added to a primer such that subsequent extension cannot occur until a deblocking agent is delivered to remove the moiety. Thus, for embodiments that use reversible termination, a deblocking reagent can be delivered to the flow cell (before or after detection occurs). Washes can be carried out between the various delivery steps. The cycle can then be repeated n times to extend the primer by n nucleotides, thereby detecting a sequence of length n. Exemplary SBS procedures, fluidic systems and detection platforms that can be readily adapted for use with an array produced by the methods of the present disclosure are described, for example, in Bentley et al., Nature 456:53-59 (2008), WO 04/018,497; WO 91/06678; WO 07/123,744; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,057,026; 7,329,492; 7,211,414; 7,315,019 or 7,405,281, and US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2008/0108082 Al, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Other sequencing procedures that use cyclic reactions can be used, such as pyrosequencing. Pyrosequencing detects the release of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) as particular nucleotides are incorporated into a nascent nucleic acid strand (Ronaghi, et al., Analytical Biochemistry 242(1), 84-9 (1996); Ronaghi, Genome Res. 11(1), 3-11 (2001); Ronaghi et al. Science 281(5375), 363 (1998); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,210,891; 6,258,568 and 6,274,320, each of which is incorporated herein by reference). In pyrosequencing, released PPi can be detected by being converted to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by ATP sulfurylase, and the resulting ATP can be detected via luciferase-produced photons. Thus, the sequencing reaction can be monitored via a luminescence detection system. Excitation radiation sources used for fluorescence based detection systems are not necessary for pyrosequencing procedures. Useful fluidic systems, detectors and procedures that can be used for application of pyrosequencing to arrays of the present disclosure are described, for example, in WIPO Pat. App. Ser. No. PCT/US11/57111, US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2005/0191698 Al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,595,883, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,244,559, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Some embodiments can utilize methods involving the real-time monitoring of DNA polymerase activity. For example, nucleotide incorporations can be detected through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) interactions between a fluorophore-bearing polymerase and γ-phosphate-labeled nucleotides, or with zeromode waveguides. Techniques and reagents for FRET-based sequencing are described, for example, in Levene et al. Science 299, 682-686 (2003); Lundquist et al. Opt. Lett. 33, 1026-1028 (2008); Korlach et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105, 1176-1181 (2008), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Some SBS embodiments include detection of a proton released upon incorporation of a nucleotide into an extension product. For example, sequencing based on detection of released protons can use an electrical detector and associated techniques that are commercially available from Ion Torrent (Guilford, Conn. a Life Technologies subsidiary) or sequencing methods and systems described in US Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2009/0026082 A1; 2009/0127589 A1; 2010/0137143 A1; or 2010/0282617 Al, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Accordingly, presented herein are methods for incorporating nucleotide analogues into DNA comprising allowing the following components to interact: (i) an altered polymerase according to any of the above embodiments, (ii) a DNA template; and (iii) a nucleotide solution. In certain embodiments, the DNA template comprises a clustered array. In certain embodiments, the nucleotides are modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl, and include modifications at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group.

Nucleic Acids Encoding Altered Polymerases

Further presented herein are nucleic acid molecules encoding the altered polymerase enzymes presented herein. For any given altered polymerase which is a mutant version of a polymerase for which the amino acid sequence and preferably also the wild type nucleotide sequence encoding the polymerase is known, it is possible to obtain a nucleotide sequence encoding the mutant according to the basic principles of molecular biology. For example, given that the wild type nucleotide sequence encoding 9° N polymerase is known, it is possible to deduce a nucleotide sequence encoding any given mutant version of 9° N having one or more amino acid substitutions using the standard genetic code. Similarly, nucleotide sequences can readily be derived for mutant versions other polymerases such as, for example, Vent™ , Pfu, Tsp JDF-3, Taq, etc. Nucleic acid molecules having the required nucleotide sequence may then be constructed using standard molecular biology techniques known in the art.

In accordance with the embodiments presented herein, a defined nucleic acid includes not only the identical nucleic acid but also any minor base variations including, in particular, substitutions in cases which result in a synonymous codon (a different codon specifying the same amino acid residue) due to the degenerate code in conservative amino acid substitutions. The term “nucleic acid sequence” also includes the complementary sequence to any single stranded sequence given regarding base variations.

The nucleic acid molecules described herein may also, advantageously, be included in a suitable expression vector to express the polymerase proteins encoded therefrom in a suitable host. Incorporation of cloned DNA into a suitable expression vector for subsequent transformation of said cell and subsequent selection of the transformed cells is well known to those skilled in the art as provided in Sambrook et al. (1989), Molecular cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Such an expression vector includes a vector having a nucleic acid according to the embodiments presented herein operably linked to regulatory sequences, such as promoter regions, that are capable of effecting expression of said DNA fragments. The term “operably linked” refers to a juxtaposition wherein the components described are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. Such vectors may be transformed into a suitable host cell to provide for the expression of a protein according to the embodiments presented herein.

The nucleic acid molecule may encode a mature protein or a protein having a prosequence, including that encoding a leader sequence on the preprotein which is then cleaved by the host cell to form a mature protein. The vectors may be, for example, plasmid, virus or phage vectors provided with an origin of replication, and optionally a promoter for the expression of said nucleotide and optionally a regulator of the promoter. The vectors may contain one or more selectable markers, such as, for example, an antibiotic resistance gene.

Regulatory elements required for expression include promoter sequences to bind RNA polymerase and to direct an appropriate level of transcription initiation and also translation initiation sequences for ribosome binding. For example, a bacterial expression vector may include a promoter such as the lac promoter and for translation initiation the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and the start codon AUG. Similarly, a eukaryotic expression vector may include a heterologous or homologous promoter for RNA polymerase II, a downstream polyadenylation signal, the start codon AUG, and a termination codon for detachment of the ribosome. Such vectors may be obtained commercially or be assembled from the sequences described by methods well known in the art.

Transcription of DNA encoding the polymerase by higher eukaryotes may be optimised by including an enhancer sequence in the vector. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA that act on a promoter to increase the level of transcription. Vectors will also generally include origins of replication in addition to the selectable markers.

EXAMPLE 1 General Assay Methods and Conditions

The following paragraphs describe general assay conditions used in the Examples presented below.

1. Gel-Based Assay

This section describes a gel-based assay used in the examples below for monitoring the pyrophosphorolytic activity of a polymerase.

Briefly, the pyrophosphorolytic activity of an exemplary modified polymerase was measured by mixing 300 nM enzyme and 100 nM duplex primer-template DNA with different concentrations (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mM) of sodium pyrophosphate, respectively, in the reaction buffer containing: 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 9.0), 50 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 6 mM MgSO4, and 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20. Reactions were performed at 55° C. for 1 minute, and stopped by adding an equal volume of 2X quench solution containing 0.025% bromophenol blue, 30 mM EDTA and 95% deionized formamide.

The reaction products were denatured at 95° C. for 5 min and resolved in 15% 7M urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (urea-PAGE). The results were visualized by scanning the gel with the GE Healthcare Typhoon 8000 Phosphorlmager.

The duplex primer-template duplex was formed by annealing the following oligonucleotides:

Primer: 5′-GCTTGCACAGGTGCGTTCGT*-3′ Template: 5′-CGTTAGTCCACGAACGCACCTGTGCAAGC-3′

This primer comprises a 6′ Carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) fluorescent dye linked to the 5′ terminal of oligonucleotide. The last “T*” contains a 3′-O azido methyl blockage moiety on the nucleotide. Lanes showing degradation of the labeled primer indicate enhanced pyrophosphorolysis (reverse reaction of DNA polymerization) compared to control.

2. Cloning and Expression of Polymerases

This section describes the approach used for cloning and expression of the various polymerase mutants used in the Examples below.

Mutagenesis was performed on the gene encoding the backbone gene sequence for the polymerase using standard site-directed mutagenesis methodology. For each mutation made, proper sequence of the mutated genes was confirmed by sequencing the cloned gene sequence.

The polymerase genes were subcloned into a pET11a vector and transformed into BL21 Star (DE3) expression cells from Invitrogen. The transformed cells were cultured at 37° C. in 2.8 L Fernbock flasks until an OD600 of 0.8 was reached. Protein expression was then induced by addition of 1 mM IPTG, followed by 3 hours of additional growth. The cultures were then centrifuged at 7000 rpm for 20 minutes. Cell pellets were stored at −20° C. until purification.

Bacterial cell lysis was performed by resuspending the frozen cultures in 10× w/v lysis buffer (Tris pH 7.5, 500 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT). EDTA free protease inhibitor (Roche) was added to the resuspended cell pellet. All lysis and purification steps were performed at 4° C. The resuspended culture was passed through a microfluidizer four times to complete cell lysis. The lysate was then centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 20 minutes to remove cell debris. Polyethylenimine (final concentration 0.5%) was added to the supernatant slowly with stirring for 45 minutes to precipitate bacterial nucleic acid. The lysate was centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 20 minutes; the pellet was discarded. The lysate was then ammonium sulfate precipitated using two volumes of cold saturated (NH4)2SO4 in sterile dH2O. The precipitated protein was centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 20 minutes. The protein pellets were resuspended in 250 mL of Buffer A (50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 50 mM KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT). The resuspended lysate was then purified using a 5 mL SP FastFlow column (GE) pre-equilibrated in buffer A. The column was eluted using a 50 mL gradient from 0.1 to 1 M KCl. Peak fractions were pooled and diluted with buffer C (Tris pH 7.5, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT) until the conductivity was equal to buffer D (Tris pH 7.5, 50 mM KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT). The pooled fractions were then loaded onto a 5 mL HiTrap Heparin Fastflow column. The polymerase was then eluted using a 100 mL gradient from 50 mM to 1 M KCl. Peak fractions were pooled, dialyzed into storage buffer (20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 300 mM KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 50% Glycerol) and frozen at −80° C.

3. Phasing/Pre-Phasing Analysis

This section describes the approach used for to analyze performance of the polymerase mutants used in the Examples below in a sequencing by synthesis assay.

Short 12-cycle sequencing experiments were used to generate phasing and pre-phasing values. The experiments were carried out on an Illumina Genome Analyzer system that was converted to a single lane system running the MiSeq Fast chemistry (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, Calif.), according to manufacturer instructions. For example, for each polymerase, a separate incorporation mixes (IMX) was generated and a 4×12 cycles run was performed using a different position for each IMX. Standard MiSeq reagent formulations were used, with the standard polymerase substituted with the polymerase being tested. The DNA library used was made following the standard TruSeq HT protocol from PhiX genomic DNA (supplied as control with Illumina reagents). Illumina RTA Software was used to evaluate phasing and pre-phasing levels.

EXAMPLE 2 Identification and Screen of 9° N Polymerase Mutants for Phasing/Pre-Phasing

A saturation mutagenesis screen of residues in the 3′ block pocket was performed. The residues selected for mutation were identified based upon their predicted interaction with the 3′ blocking group of a modified nucleotide, as generally depicted in FIG. 2. Mutations to a modified 9° N polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 30) were generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1.

The purified mutant polymerases were screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 30. Of those mutants that were screened, a panel of mutants, including the following mutants, were further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as described above in Example 1.

Results of the screen are shown in FIG. 5 and are summarized in the table below. As shown in the table, each of the above mutants showed unexpected and significant improvements in one or more of phasing and pre-phasing when compared to the control polymerase, Pol812.

SEQ Phasing reduction Mutation (name) ID NO: compared to control? Control (Pol812) 30 — T514A (Pol951) 32 Yes T514S (Pol952) 32 Yes I521L (Pol953) 33 Yes T514A/I521L (Pol955) 34 Yes T514S/I521L (Pol957) 34 Yes

EXAMPLE 3 Screen of Mutants of 9° N WT Polymerase

Mutations to a Thermococcus sp. 9° N-7 (9° N) wild type polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 5) are generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1, producing polymerase enzymes having the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 6-8.

The purified mutant polymerases are screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5. Of those mutants that are screened, a panel of mutants are further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as generally described above in Example 1. Those polymerases having the following mutations are shown to have improved phasing and/or pre-phasing activity compared to the control: T514A, T514S, I521L, T514A/I521L and T514S/I521L.

EXAMPLE 4 Screen of Mutants of 9° N Exo⁻ Polymerase

Mutations to 9° N Exo⁻ polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 9) are generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1, producing polymerase enzymes having the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 10-12.

The purified mutant polymerases are screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9. Of those mutants that are screened, a panel of mutants are further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as generally described above in Example 1. Those polymerases having the following mutations are shown to have improved phasing and/or pre-phasing activity compared to the control: T514A, T514S, I521L, T514A/I521L and T514S/I521L.

EXAMPLE 5 Screen of Mutants of Altered 9° N Polymerase

Mutations to an altered 9° N polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 13) are generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1, producing polymerase enzymes having the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 14-16.

The purified mutant polymerases are screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13. Of those mutants that are screened, a panel of mutants are further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as generally described above in Example 1. Those polymerases having the following mutations are shown to have improved phasing and/or pre-phasing activity compared to the control: T514A, T514S, I521L, T514A/I521L and T514S/I521L.

EXAMPLE 6 Screen of Mutants of Pfu Exo⁻ Polymerase

Based upon analysis of sequence alignment to the 9° N polymerase backbone sequence (see FIG. 3), specific mutations to Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) Exo⁻ polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 17) are generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1, producing polymerase enzymes having the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 18-20.

The purified mutant polymerases are screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17. Of those mutants that are screened, a panel of mutants are further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as generally described above in Example 1. Those polymerases having the following mutations are shown to have improved phasing and/or pre-phasing activity compared to the control: T514A, T514S, I521L, T514A/I521L and T514S/I521L.

EXAMPLE 7 Screen of Mutants of KOD1 Exo⁻ Polymerase

Based upon analysis of sequence alignment to the 9° N polymerase backbone sequence (see FIG. 3), specific mutations to Thermococcus kodakaraensis (KOD1) Exo⁻ polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 21) are generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1, producing polymerase enzymes having the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 22-24.

The purified mutant polymerases are screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 21. Of those mutants that are screened, a panel of mutants are further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as generally described above in Example 1. Those polymerases having the following mutations are shown to have improved phasing and/or pre-phasing activity compared to the control: T514A, T514S, I521L, T514A/I521L and T514S/I521L.

EXAMPLE 8 Screen of Mutants of MMS2 Exo⁻ Polymerase

Based upon analysis of sequence alignment to the 9° N polymerase backbone sequence (see FIG. 3), specific mutations to Methanococcus maripaludis (MMS2) Exo⁻ polymerase backbone sequence (SEQ ID NO: 25) are identified based upon homology in an alignment with 9° N polymerase (see FIG. 4). The mutants are generated, cloned, expressed and purified as described generally in Example 1, producing polymerase enzymes having the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOs: 26-28.

The purified mutant polymerases are screened for burst kinetics using the gel-based assay described above in Example 1 and compared to the control polymerase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 25. Of those mutants that are screened, a panel of mutants are further screened for phasing/pre-phasing activity as generally described above in Example 1. Those polymerases having the following mutations are shown to have improved phasing and/or pre-phasing activity compared to the control: T530A, T530S, I537L, T530A/I537L and T530S/I537L.

Throughout this application various publications, patents and/or patent applications have been referenced. The disclosure of these publications in their entireties is hereby incorporated by reference in this application.

The term comprising is intended herein to be open-ended, including not only the recited elements, but further encompassing any additional elements.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An altered polymerase which exhibits increased turnover when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide.
 2. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the altered polymerase exhibits enhanced template switching when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide.
 3. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the altered polymerase exhibits reduced pyrophosphorolysis when compared to a control polymerase during incorporation of a 3′ OH blocked nucleotide into a polynucleotide.
 4. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the altered polymerase comprises at least one amino acid substitution mutation at a position in the 3′ block binding pocket of the polymerase.
 5. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein said 3′ block binding pocket comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 8 Å of the blocking group of a 3′ blocked nucleotide.
 6. The altered polymerase of claim 5, wherein said 3′ block binding pocket comprises residues having side chain groups positioned within 8 Å of the terminal azide of the 3′ blocked nucleotide as set forth in Table
 1. 7. The altered polymerase of claim 1, comprising at least one amino acid substitution mutation at the position or positions functionally equivalent to Gly386, Gly387, Phe405, Ser407, Leu408, Tyr409, Pro410, Ser411, Ile412, Asn491, Asn494, Gly495, Ala510, Ser512, Val513, Thr514, Ala515, Trp516, Gly517, Arg518, Gly519, Tyr520, Ile521, Thr541 and/or Asp542 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 8. The altered polymerase of claim 7, wherein said substitution mutation comprises a mutation to a residue having a smaller side chain.
 9. The altered polymerase of claim 7, wherein said substitution mutation comprises a mutation to a residue having a hydrophobic side chain.
 10. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the polymerase is a DNA polymerase.
 11. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the DNA polymerase is a family B type DNA polymerase.
 12. The altered polymerase of claim 11 which is selected from the group consisting of a family B archael DNA polymerase, human DNA polymerase-α, T4, RB69, and phi29 phage DNA polymerase.
 13. The altered polymerase of claim 12, wherein the family B archael DNA polymerase is from a genus selected from the group consisting of Thermococcus Pyrococcus, and Methanococcus.
 14. The family B archael DNA polymerase of claim 12 which is selected from the group consisting of Vent, Deep Vent, 9° N, and Pfu polymerase.
 15. The altered polymerase of claim 14, wherein the family B archael DNA polymerase is 9° N polymerase.
 16. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Leu408 and/or Tyr409 and/or Pro410 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 17. The altered polymerase of claim 16, wherein the altered polymerase comprises substitution mutations homologous to Leu408Ala and/or Tyr409Ala and/or Pro410Ile in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 18. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the altered polymerase comprises reduced exonuclease activity as compared to a wild type polymerase.
 19. The altered polymerase of claim 18, wherein the altered polymerase comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Asp141 and/or Glu143 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 20. The altered polymerase of claim 1, wherein the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Ala485 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 21. The altered polymerase of claim 20, wherein the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Ala485Leu or Ala485Val in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.
 22. The altered polymerase of claim 1 further comprising a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Cys223 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 23. The altered polymerase of claim 22, wherein the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Cys223Ser in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.
 24. An altered polymerase comprising a substitution mutation to the semi-conserved domain in the 3′ block binding pocket, said semi-conserved domain comprising the amino acid sequence the semi-conserved domain comprising the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 wherein the substitution mutation comprises a mutation selected from a substitution at position 3 to any residue other than Thr or a substitution at position 10 to any residue other than Ile, or a combination thereof.
 25. The altered polymerase of claim 24, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution at position
 3. 26. The altered polymerase of claim 25, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution to Ala or Ser.
 27. The altered polymerase of claim 24, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution at position
 10. 28. The altered polymerase of claim 27, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution to Leu.
 29. The altered polymerase of claim 24, wherein the mutation comprises both a substitution at position 3 and substitution at position
 10. 30. An altered polymerase comprising a substitution mutation to the semi-conserved domain in the 3′ block binding pocket, said semi-conserved domain comprising the amino acid sequence the semi-conserved domain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 wherein the substitution mutation comprises a mutation selected from a substitution at position 6 to any residue other than Thr or a substitution at position 13 to any residue other than Ile, or a combination thereof.
 31. The altered polymerase of claim 30, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution at position
 6. 32. The altered polymerase of claim 31, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution to Ala or Ser.
 33. The altered polymerase of claim 30, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution at position
 13. 34. The altered polymerase of claim 33, wherein the mutation comprises a substitution to Leu.
 35. The altered polymerase of claim 30, wherein the mutation comprises both a substitution at position 6 and substitution at position
 13. 36. The altered polymerase of any of claims 24-35, wherein the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Leu408 and/or Tyr409 and/or Pro410 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 37. The altered polymerase of claim 36, wherein the altered polymerase comprises substitution mutations homologous to Leu408Ala and/or Tyr409Ala and/or Pro410Ile in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 38. The altered polymerase of any of claims 24-35, wherein the altered polymerase comprises reduced exonuclease activity as compared to a wild type polymerase.
 39. The altered polymerase of claim 38, wherein the altered polymerase comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Asp141 and/or Glu143 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 40. The altered polymerase of any of claims 24-35, wherein the altered polymerase further comprises substitution mutations at positions functionally equivalent to Ala485 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 41. The altered polymerase of claim 40, wherein the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Ala485Leu or Ala485Val in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.
 42. The altered polymerase of any of claims 24-35 further comprising a substitution mutation to a different amino acid at the position functionally equivalent to Cys223 in the 9° N DNA polymerase amino acid sequence.
 43. The altered polymerase of claim 42, wherein the polymerase comprises a substitution mutation functionally equivalent to Cys223Ser in the 9° N polymerase amino acid sequence.
 44. An altered polymerase comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 6-8, 10-12, 14-16, 18-20, 22-24 and 26-34.
 45. A nucleic acid molecule encoding an altered polymerase as defined in any of claims 1-44.
 46. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 45. 47. A host cell comprising the vector of claim
 46. 48. A method for incorporating modified nucleotides into DNA comprising allowing the following components to interact: (i) an altered polymerase according to any one of claims 1-44, (ii) a DNA template; and (iii) a nucleotide solution.
 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the DNA template comprises a clustered array.
 50. A kit for performing a nucleotide incorporation reaction comprising: a polymerase as defined in any one of claims 1-44 and a nucleotide solution.
 51. The kit of claim 50, wherein the nucleotide solution comprises labelled nucleotides.
 52. The kit of claim 50, wherein the nucleotides comprise synthetic nucleotides.
 53. The kit of claim 50, wherein the nucleotides comprise modified nucleotides.
 54. The kit of claim 53, wherein the modified nucleotides have been modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group.
 55. The kit of claim 53, wherein modified nucleotides comprise a modified nucleotide or nucleoside molecule comprising a purine or pyrimidine base and a ribose or deoxyribose sugar moiety having a removable 3′-OH blocking group covalently attached thereto, such that the 3′ carbon atom has attached a group of the structure —O—Z wherein Z is any of —C(R′)₂—O—R″, —C(R′)₂—N(R″)₂, —C(R′)₂—N(H)R″, —C(R′)₂—S—R″ and —C(R′)₂—F, wherein each R″ is or is part of a removable protecting group; each R′ is independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, substituted alkyl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy or amido group, or a detectable label attached through a linking group; or (R′)₂ represents an alkylidene group of formula ═C(R′″)₂ wherein each R′″ may be the same or different and is selected from the group comprising hydrogen and halogen atoms and alkyl groups; and wherein said molecule may be reacted to yield an intermediate in which each R″ is exchanged for H or, where Z is —C(R′)₂—F, the F is exchanged for OH, SH or NH₂, preferably OH, which intermediate dissociates under aqueous conditions to afford a molecule with a free 3′ OH; with the proviso that where Z is —C(R′)₂—S—R″, both R′ groups are not H.
 56. The kit of claim 55, wherein R′ of the modified nucleotide or nucleoside is an alkyl or substituted alkyl.
 57. The kit of claim 56, wherein —Z of the modified nucleotide or nucleoside is of formula —C(R′)₂—N₃.
 58. The kit of claim 57, wherein Z is an azidomethyl group.
 59. The kit of claim 51, wherein the modified nucleotides are fluorescently labelled to allow their detection.
 60. The kit of claim 50, wherein the modified nucleotides comprise a nucleotide or nucleoside having a base attached to a detectable label via a cleavable linker.
 61. The kit of claim 60, wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorescent label.
 62. The kit of claim 50 further comprising one or more DNA template molecules and/or primers. 